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Crocodile leather

A very fashionable crocodile leather handbag

What comes to mind when you think of the crocodile? Mysterious, ugly, unpredictable, huge, smelly reptile.

But despite it's fearsome reputation (and smell), it is by far the most
well-known exotic leather. Just almost everyone would like to have one or
already own one. Crocodile leather belts, wallets, purses, handbags, briefcases,
even boots! Mind you, they are very expensive (I'll just buy a belt, thank
you). Think high class. They happen to be one of the durable types of leather;
they are very tough.

Stuff to Know

Animal:

Crocodile (Crocodylinae)

Maximum size & weight:

Biggest crocodile is found in the Crocodile
Farm in Samut Prakan province, Thailand. It is 6 meters
long (19.6 feet) and weighs
1,114.27 kg (2,455.95 lbs).

Maximum age:

Approximately 70 years or more depending
on environmental stress (Oh yes, they get stressed,
too!). The oldest crocodile is 115 years old found in Yekaterinburg,
Russia. It has died already, sorry folks, you could not
see it alive anymore.

Protected?

Cross breeds found in crocodile farms are
not protected.

Where it lives
in the wild

They are found in the tropics; Africa,
Asia, Australia and Americas.

Where is it farmed?

They are farmed in crocodile farms where
the climate is suitable (tropical).

Dangerous
to humans?

Oh my, yes!! Stay out of range
of its tail and the jaws!

Afraid of humans?

No. Let's just say they look at humans with
indifference and contempt, or find us annoying.

People injured
yearly

Handlers get bitten or hit by the strong
tail, wild crocodiles attack people on camping trips. We
do not have available global statistics at the present.

People
killed yearly by

Crocodiles did kill people.
We do not have global statistics for that.

Is
meat edible?

Yes. Quiet a delicacy in China.

Taste of meat

A rather delicate flavour, a bit like chicken
or fish. It can be another kind of white-meat.

Living habits:

They tend to live in slow-moving rivers
and some are found in the sea.

Eating habits:

Crocodiles eat dead or living mammals and
fish.

Farming style:

They are farmed in Australia, Thailand and
other parts of Southeast Asia.

Harversting
weight and size:

They are sent to be processed
when reaching the length of 1.5–2
metres (4.92-6.56 feet).

Skin
processing:

The skin is separated from
the flesh.

Then it is soaked in water to remove dirt, blood, salt
and other excess fats. The animal hide is fleshed; the
flesh is removed from the surface of the hide. Usually
this process is done by machines.

If there are hairs, this step is followed. Hair removal
is done by soaking the hide in a lime solution.
This action loosens the hair from the skin. Then the
hide is scudded; removing of the hairs by using a dull
knife (this process is usually automated by machines).

When that is done, the lime should be removed (deliming).
Then it is ready for tanning.

The tanning process may differ depending on the required
end-product. Vegetable or natural tanning will produce
stiff but flexible leathers suited for luggages, furniture,
leashes, belts and similar items. The compound used are
usually organic and they contain tannin (you guessed
it, this is where we get the term "leather tanning").
Tannin comes from bark, leaves, wood and fruit of chestnut,
oakwood trees, hemlock trees.

Then there is mineral tanning which uses mineral compounds;
chrome for example.